Saturday, September 09, 2006

Sumac Is Starting




Today I was out with my husband. I saw several maple trees already have a large cloak of orange around their shoulders. With the dry summer we had, it looks like the trees lost lots of leaves. Their cloaks are very thin this year. The two pictures here are of sumac leaves starting to turn. They turn bright red and then where a dark burgandy seed head like a stocking cap on top. In the second picture there is also a dogwood tree on the left. It is showing forth its red berries.

The weather was hotter than it has been, but still very bearable. The high was supposed to be 85, but I think it got hotter than that.

Tonight we need to trim the goat hooves. We bought peanuts to see if the calves will eat them. We like to keep them friendly with us and we are no longer giving them bottles. We don't feed grain, so we are going to try an occasional treat. We went to get some alfalfa cubes, but they only sold them in huge bags and we are not sure they would even like them.

We have a buck worked out for this year. He is the same one we used last year. He is very sweet although extremely smelly. I do believe of all the animals I have been around, a male goat in rut is by far the grossest!!!! I now need to work out a deal on a ram. We breed in November for April babies. We like April because it is not bitter cold anymore and the flies are not out yet.

It is very quiet on the farm today. I picked some comfrey leaves and some echinacea leaves to dry. I need to get out there and get some jewel weed as well. I will mush it and freeze it in an ice cube tray. I am hoping to add it to my home made salve recipe. I also put the dried onions and tomatoes in the food processor to chop them up. I did the onions first. They taste like candy. The tomatoes came out pretty well. They are not a really fine powder, but I would say they came out as a powder with some chunks and that will work.

I want to ask everyone that reads this post to please leave a comment about one thing you are thankful for. I am thankful for a God who gave us beautiful seasons instead of one black and white one.

6 comments:

Kelli said...

Such pretty Sumac photos! They remind me of my trip to Ontario, Canada two years ago. They were an amazing flourescent orange color!
Kelli

LadySnow said...

Okay Marci...I am obviously thankful for the Lord above and all he has done for me and my family, but I figured I better say something else too! I am thankful for the chance to be a Keeper at Home and not be a "career Mom" that misses so many "little" things with her children. ;)

Peggy said...

I am thankful I was raised in a Christian home so I can enjoy the blessings God gives me each day.

Tina Leigh said...

I am thankful for meeting so many other christian ladies by way of blogs...something I knew nothing about this time last year. I am mostly thankful for God who hasn't given up on me despite my sorriness & disobediance...why in the world does HE love me?! THanks Marci for the wonderful post!! He is sure doing a work in you!

Kelli said...

Marci, I'm so sorry for forgetting to leave a comment about what I'm thankful for. I am thankful that I am able to stay home with my children. Such wonderful times we are having together.
Kelli

Nickie said...

I am thankfull for my husband, and I am thankfull the sun came out today to help dry out those who flooded yesterday.